panamericana.info  
Imprint
 
  americas   panamericana info tour Rasmus Reuter  
 
   
Tour Panamericana
   
Alaska

Canada

USA

Mexico

Belize

Guatemala

El Salvador

Honduras

Nicaragua

Costa Rica

Panama

Ecuador

Peru

Bolivia

Chile

Argentina
Chile

(San Pedro de Atacama - Chanaral - Santiago - Temuco - Santiago)

Continuing on the Panamericana South

[February 24, 2005] The first shower after the 5 days, a cold Cerveza and giving the KTM the deserved treatment were among the first things I did once having arrived in San Pedro de Atacama, a town in the Atacamadesert. At the first glance there is hardly anything in this area, one of the dryiest areas in the world. Then one looks again and discoveres the mining areas here, for silver, copper, gold, zinc etc. That has helped the area to a fair wealth over the past, but also triggered conflicts and wars with Chiles neighboring countries Peru and Bolivia. And still one can see the warning signs for landmines



left and right of the streets. This brought me back too quick to reality, sad enough…

After too many weeks in the deserts I have had enough and throttled up. In Santiago, a very modern city, I serviced my bike and got new tires for the last distance South. And having explored the life and nightlife in Santiago I also was happy to hit the road again, leaving with the lesson that here everything is superorganized and fewer people seem to laugh…

I am very happy as finally I see the Green again, trees, forests and the vineyards. Here grows the famous Chilenian wine, great. And I want to meet my 2 Dutch friends, Dirk and Sander, in Puerto Montt.

And then the worst happens. Close to Temuco in the South, at tour Kilometer 32500 (or 50249 total) the heart of the KTM stops beating. My first aid and the diagnosis: A tough stroke!



O.K., I organized a car, transported the bike back to the KTM dealership in Santiago and we operate! The reason was really bad gas with only 78 Octane in Bolivia and the endurance with that crap in the altitude… The piston broke. And the rest damage was caused by the parts. The Octanebooster I bought in Bolivia did not help much, eh?

After 3 days in intensive care, new piston, cylinder and all bearings



but also some thousand bucks poorer the heart beats again and I head South to Chillan to finally meet my Dutch friends there.

The reunion is a great party, we laugh and talk and exchange the trip details, but I also get to face some nasty jokes about the recent events… Shit happens.

And finally I am now continuing my journey South with new spirit and a new heart really open for all that happens. Knowing I always have an answer. And I will enjoy the 2000 miles South to the goal Usuahia.


(Chillan - Pucon - Carretera Austral)

Volkanoes and the wild South

[March 18, 2005] I am leaving the busy coastal area of Chile and hope to find a rather quiet place in the Lake Distrikt in the South. And get greeted by the fazsinating volkanoe Villarrica.



He dominates the area, allows with its lakes and hot springs the tourism in this area and is surrounded by a dream of nature, parks and dirttracks. A dream for every biker. And here I meet Peter and Frank. They both take me on their favorite tours and tracks and I experience the other world of that volkanoe, far away of any tourism. Good life. We slide on little paths, cross rivers and play in the mud, enjoy every minute of that life. For 2 weeks I explore the area and the local BBQ and wine specialities, I need to learn the local way of life. And it was a real good one...

Then the autumn comes with the first storm, wind and low temperatures, but also showing its bright colors known from New England as the Indian summers. For me its a definite sign to head South, Ushuaia is still 2000 miles more South, sounds easy after my 20000 miles so far but I do expect some surprises. But after all these miles the KTM and myself have become really flexible in all means.
I take the little ferry from Puerto Montt to Chaiten, the starting point of the Carretera Austral, the street leading to the wild South of Chile.

And here I find the wilderness of the mountains and dark forests.



Instantly I have to think of Alaska and the North of Canada, the similarity of the pictures is stunning. The dirtroad leads me through a tough countyside, small and dark, then wide and open. And suddenly I meet a group of 10 KTMs heding North. Its the KTM dealer Roland and his group of Austrians, they drove up from Punta Arenas. And we exchange news and they give me good tips for my way South.
Autumn now clearly takes over with strong winds, max 10 degrees C and rain from the right. But I have got a good mood and strong will and can enjoy this beautiful country. And then the lakes show me their beautiful colors. It seems that close to the poles all colors appear stronger and brighter, now with different tones of blue, green and red. Stunning...


In Coyhaique I camp in a forest near a Hostel, the odor and the sounds remind me again of the time in northern Canada. Then I arrive at the Lago Buenos Aires, which dominates here the border area with Argentina. I hardly meet any tourists and am the only stranger in the town of Cochrane, my most southern point in this wild and beautiful part of Chile. And see and eat the Beef, I love it.
With this intensive countryside I say good-bye to Chile and I will remember this Southern part very well. It´s so different from the loud, fast and Erupoean North...

Hasta la vista

Rasmus, now really heading South…